richardson



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

1-]. P. RICHARDSON. SHOE SEWING MACHINE.

(No Model.)

No. 599,253. Patented Feb. 15. 1898..

25 horn provided with my improvements.-

NITED STATES Arnr FFl CF.

EVERETT P. RICHARDSON, OF LAiVRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN H.RICHARDSON, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE-SEVVING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,253, dated February15, 1898. Ap lication fil d July 27,1897. Serial No. 646,093. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EVERETT P. RICHARD- SON, of Lawrence, in the countyof Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain 5 new anduseful Improvements in Shoe-Sewing Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a wax-thread shoesewing machine employing ahorn on which the shoe is supported while its outer sole is beingstitched to the upper and inner sole, the needle passing through theouter sole from its exteriorinto the interior of the shoe, where itenters a chamber or cavity in the tip I of the horn and there receivesthe waxed thread from a thread-presenting device.

The invention consists in certain improvements relating to the looper ofa machine of this character and to the wax-pot and means for heating thewax-pot and horn, all of which I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a Vertical sectional view of a sewing-machine Fig. 2represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents asectional View of the upper portion of the horn. Fig. 4 represents aview similar to Fig. 2, the heating device and 0 wax-pot being removed.Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.. Figs. 6, 9, and 11represent views of different forms of looper embodying my invention.Fig. 7 represents a section on line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 represents asection on line 8 8 of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 represents a section on line 1010, Fig. 9. Fig. 12 represents a section on line 12 12, Fig. 11. Fig. 13represents a sectional view of a looper embodying certain features of myin vention, as hereinafter described. Figs. 14

and 15 represent modifications hereinafter referred to.

The same'letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts inallthe figures.

In the drawings, a represents afiXed tubular bearing, which occupies asubstantially vertical position on the frame of a shoe-sewingmachine. 1) represents atubular spindle mounted to rotate in saidbearing and sup- 5o porting the horn 19 said spindle being pro vided atits upper end with a horizontal flange or head I), to which the base ofthe horn is affixed.

0 represents an annular steam-chamber which surrounds the upper portionof the spindle b above the bearing a and is located under the flange b.Said chamber may be supported in a fixed position in any suitable way,and is here shownas supported by means of steam-pipes c c, which aresuitably attached to the bearing a, one of said pipes connecting asource of steanrsnpply, while the other conducts away the exhaust-steam.The pipes c o are preferably vertically adjustable by means of screws c0 engaged with tapped lugs c on the bearing a, the upper portions of thepipes being movable in cars or guides c 0 on said bearing. The verticaladj ustability of the pipes c 0 enables the chamber 0 to be raised intocontact with the head I) at the commencement of the operation of themachine, thus quickly heating the horn, it being a fact that the horn isheated more quickly when the chamber 0 is in contact with the head 1)than when the chamber is separated from said head. After the horn issufficiently heated the chamber 0 maybe lowered to remove it fromcontact with the head 1), sufficient heat being radiated from thechamber across the intervening crevice to keep the horn at the desiredtemperature.

The flange Z) has a depending skirt or extension b to the lower edge ofwhich is at tached a horizontal plate or shelf hereinafter referred toas the wax-pot holder. As here shown, the plate Z2 has an enlargedopening I) (see Figs. 4 and 5) surrounding the spindle b, the pipes o cpassing throughsaid opening, so that the horn rotates freely withoutobstruction by the steam pipes. The 0 plate or shelf 12 projectsconsiderably from one side of the annular heating-chamber, and on itsprojecting portion is located a wax-pot d, which is movable upon theshelf or holder 1) toward and from the chamber 0, so that 5 the waX-pot,the inner side of which is preferably recessed to conform to thecurvature of the chamber 0, can be moved toward and from said chamber tovary the heat of the wax. Means are provided for adjusting the wax-pot10o ward or from the chamber 0, as will be read-v ily seen. The wax-potmay be adjusted inwardly into contact with the chamber 0 until the waxis sufficiently heated and then outwardly to prevent rubbing contactbetween the wax-pot and the chamber 0. The shelf is heated by thechamber a and conducts heat to the wax-pot. By making the wax-potmovable toward and from the heater I am enabled to adjust the wax-potfirst into actual contact with the heating device for the immediatemelting of the wax and then to a position more or less distant from theheating device to regulate the heat continuously supplied to the wax-potduring the operation of the machine. It is desirable to melt the waxquickly when preparing for operation; but the degree of heat which isdesirable to quickly melt the wax is undesirably high for continuous usethereafter, because of the liability of overheating the Wax and causingit to boil over. i m represents a tubular shaft journaled in bearings inthe upper portion of the horn and arranged in an inclined position at anobtuse angle with the path of the needle 5. The shaft m may be rotatedby any suitable mechanism, and the rotating mechanism may be the same asthat shown in Letters Patent No. 577,397, dated February 16, 1897namely,a plurality of shafts, one j ournaled in the hornspindle and another inthe horn, the shafts being connected by gears.

The thread which passes through the waxpot is suitably guided to thelower end of the shaft m and passes through said shaft to the loopern,which is affixed to the upper end thereof. I have here shown atension-wheel w and an idle pulley w, j ournaled in the horn andarranged to guide the thread, as shown in Fig. 1.

The looper, which is an important part of my invention, is constructedwith three general ends in view-namely, first, to guide the threadoutwardly from the shaft m below and around the point of the needle andprotect it from contact with said point; secondly, to allow the threadto pass from the looper to the needle in a direction which isapproximately parallel with the path of the needle or so nearly parallelas to enable the thread to pass easily through the looper with theminimum of frictional resistance and strain; thirdly, to reduce to theminimum the diameter of the circular path of the looper where itrevolves around the needle, so that the horn may be made of the smallestpracticable cross-see tional area at this point. Another end which Ihave had in view in constructing the looper in the preferred form shownin Figs. 3, 6, 9, and 11 is to give the looper such form as thatinjurious contact between the looper and the needle in case of thespringing or displacement of either part will be practically impossible,and the catching or engagement of the looper with the lining of the bootor shoe will also be impossible.

I will first describe the preferred construction of the looper as shownin Figs. 3, 6, 9, and 11. Said construction embodies an annular arm2,which is concentric with the shaft m and is provided at its innerportion with means for engagement with said shaft, such means being, forexample, a sleeve 3, formed to surround the outer end of the shaft, asshown in Figs. 3 and 4, or a shank 4, formed to enter the shaft. andengaged therewith by a set-screw 5 or other suitable means. The arm 2has its maximum diameter at its inner portion and is contracted ortapered from its inner to its outer portion, so that the longitudinalsection of the annular arm is inclined relatively to the axis of theshaft m, the arm surrounding a cavity adapted to receive the point ofthe needle, as shown in Fig. 3, the cavity being enlarged at its innerend to permit the entrance of the needle and contracted at its outerportion to reduce to the minimum the width of the opening required inthe horn for the reception of the outer portion of the arm. On the outerportion of the annular arm 2 is formed an annular end face 6, which isof sufficient width to permit the formation in it of a thread-guidingeye 7, located outside of the needle-receiving cavity, the form andarrangement of the end face being such that the said eye extends at anangle to the axis of the shaft m and in a direction approximatelyparallel to the path of the needle when said eye is in its lowestposition, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 6 the collar 3 of the looper isprovided with a thread-guiding channel 13, communicating with a slot 14in the shaft m, said slot and channel permitting the thread to pass fromthe interior of the shaft m to the exterior of the arm of the looper ata point below the point of the depressed needle. The channel 13 isarranged so that the thread passes directly from it along the exteriorof the arm of the looper through the eye 7.

In the construction shown in Fig. 9 the shank 4 of the looper isprovided with a longitudinal thread-channel 15, which communicates witha slot 16, formed in the outer portion of the shaft m, the channel 15and slot 16 constituting a thread-guide from which the thread passes tothe delivering-eye 7. The shank at is a more efficient conductor of heatto the looper than the open sleeve 3, said shank practically filling theinterior of the shaft m. For this reason I prefer the shank as aconnection between the looper and its shaft. It will be seen that ineach of the ICC IIC

above described constructions the thread passes from the shaft m at apoint below the needle-receiving cavity in the looper.

It will be seen that the formation of a thread-guidin g eye outside thecavity of the looper permits thethread to be deflected outwardly fromthe axis of the shaft m at a point below the extremity of the depressedneedle and then inwardly toward said axis and toward the needle to theend face 6 and to pass from the latter to the needle at such an angle aswill reduce to the minimum the frictional strain on the thread, thethread being protected from contact with the point of the needle. InFigs. 6 and 9 said cavity has a closed bottom, which in Fig. 6 is adiaphragm or partition 16, while in Fig. 9 it is a continuation of theshank at.

In Fig. 3 I show a groove 17, formed in the outer surface of the arm ofthe looper, extending from the channel 13 to the threadeye 7 for thepartial reception of the thread passing along the exterior of the arm.

In Fig. 6 I show a removable casing 18, surrounding the sleeve, arm, andlip of the looper and separated from the arm by an annular space throughwhich the thread passes from the slot 13 to the guiding-eye 7, saidcasing serving to prevent any possible contact between the lining of theboot or shoe and the thread.

In Figs. 11 and 12 I show the annular arm provided with orifices oroutlets 19, formed to permit the escape from the needle-receiving cavityof lasting-tacks, which are occasionally forced downward by the needle.Said outlets 19 are formed above the closed bottom of the looper-cavity,so that they permit the tacks entering said cavity to escape laterally,the said closed bottom preventing the tacks from finding their way intothe thread-passage of the looper-operating shaft. The tacks are thusprevented from contact with the sticky surface of the waxed thread, sothat they cannot adhere to said thread and pass upwardly with it.

The annular form of the looper-arm and lip, whereby a needle-receivingcavity is formed, so that when the needle is depressed it is surroundedby the looper, not only prevents the possibility of injurious contactbetween the looper and needle in case either part, and particularly theneedle, is deflected or sprung out of its intended position, but alsoprevents the looper from catching or e11- gaging the lining of a boot orshoe being operated upon, as it might do if the looper were a narrow armrevolving about the-needle instead of being of annular form andsurrounding the'needle. The inwardinclination of the shank of the looperfrom the end of the shaft m toward a prolongation of the axis of saidshaft locates the lip 01 at the minimum distance from the axis of theshaft and from the path of the needle, which path intersects the axis ofthe shaft within the cavity of the looper.

My invention is not limited, however, to the annular form of looperabove described, as some of the advantages above enumerated may besecured by the use of a looper such as would be made by cutting away theannular arm until, instead of being of annular form, the said arm wouldsimply project from one side of the device by which it is connected withthe shaft m, as shown in Fig. 13. A looper thus constructed is similarto the looper previously described in that it is adapted to guide thethread outwardly from the shaft on below and around the point ofthe-needle and protect it from the point of the needle.

The looper formed as shown in Fig. 13 may be provided with a casing 18,as shown in Fig. let.

I do not limit myself to the formation of the end face 6 on a lipprojecting from the arm of the looper, as the arm may be thickened, asshown in Fig. 15, so that its outer end forms an annular end face ofsufficient Width to surround the thread-guiding eye.

I claim- 1. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, thecombination of a fixed support, a horn rotatively mounted thereon, awaxpot revoluble with the horn, and a fixed heating device arranged toact simultaneously on the horn and wax-pot, whereby continuous fixedconnections may be employed be.

tween the heating device and its source of supply, the wax-pot beingrevoluble with the horn and in a path adjacent to the fixed heatingdevice.

2. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, the combination of afixed support, a fixed annular heating device thereon, a horn having aspindle rotatively connected withsaid support and passing through theannular heating device, and a wax-pot holder located at one side of theheating device and a wax-pot movable on said holder toward and from theheating device.

3. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, the combination of afixed support,

a steam-chamber thereon, a horn rotatively mounted on said support andprovided with a wax-pot holder,a wax-pot adj ustably mounted on saidholder, and means for adjusting the said wax-pot relatively to thesteam-chamber, and for positively holding the wax-pot at any position towhich it may be adjusted.

4. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, the combination of afixed support, a fixed annular heating device thereon, a horn having aspindle rotatively connected with said support and passing through theannular heating device, and a shelf located at one side of theheatin gdevice, a wax-pot movable on said shelf and having a projection on itsbottom, and an adjusting-screw on the shelf engaged with the saidprojection.

5. In a sewingmachine of the character specified, the combination of afixed support, a horn rotatively mounted thereon, amovable steam-chamberbelow the horn, and means for adjusting said steam-chamber relatively tothe base of the horn, and for holding it at any position to which it maybe adjusted.

6. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, the combination of afixed support, a horn rotatively mounted thereon, a fixed heatingdevice, a heat-conducting wax-pot holder revoluble with the horn andarranged to receive heat from the heating device, and projectingtherefrom, and a wax-pot supported by the projecting holder and acted onby heat conducted through the holder.

7. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, the combination of arotary horn, a looper-operating shaft within the horn arranged at anobtuse angle with the path of the needle, and a looper engaged with saidshaft and having an internal enlargement, a contracted portion abovesaid enlargement, and a thread-guide formed to deflect the threadoutwardly from the axis of the shaft below the point of the needle andbelow the internal enlargement in the looper, and then inwardly towardthe said axis and toward the shank'of the needle at the said contractedportion, the deflected portion of the thread being positively held bythe looper out of contact with the point of the needle.

8. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, the combinationof aneedle, a horn, and a looper supported in the horn and having its axisarranged at an obtuse angle with the path of the needle, the portion ofthe looper below the point of the depressed needle extending outwardlyfrom the axis while the portion above the point of the depressed needleextends inwardlytoward said axis, the looper having means for directingthe thread first outwardly and then inwardly toward its axis, saidlooper having an end face in which is formed a thread-delivering orificelocated in close proximity to the barb of the needle.

9. In a sewing-machine of the character specified, the combination of aneedle, a horn, a thread-guiding looper-operating shaft located in saidhorn and at an obtuse angle to the needle, and a looper on said shafthaving a portion below the point of the depressed needle extendingoutwardly from the axis,and a portion above said point extendinginwardlytoward said axis, said looper having also a partition or barrier wherebythe admission of tacks to the shaft is prevented.

10. In a sewing-machine of the character tary horn, a thread-guidinglooper-operating shaft within the horn arranged at an obtuse angle withthe path of the needle, and an annular looper formed to receive andsurround the point of the needle, said looper being contracted at itsouter end and having an annular end face provided with athread-delivering eye which is located in close proximity to the barb ofthe needle by the contraction of the end of the looper, the looperhaving means for directing the thread first outwardly from and p theninwardly toward its axis.

11. An annular looper having a needle-receiving cavity closed at itsinner end, and also having one or more tack-outlets.

12. An annular looper contracted at its outer end and having an annularend face provided with a thread-delivering eye, and provided at itsinner end with means for engagement with an operating device, saidlooper being formed to receive and surround the point of the needle.

13. A looper supported bya thread-guiding shaft and formed to guide thethread outwardly from the axis of the shaft below the point of theneedle, and then inwardly toward said axis, and toward the shank of theneedle, combined with a removable annular casing formed to cover theexterior of the looper and extending from below the point where thethread passes outwardly from the axis of the shaft and above the pointwhere the thread passes inwardly toward the shank of the needle, wherebycontact between the thread and the work is prevented, the removabilityof the casing facilitating the threading of the looper.

14. In a sewing-machine, the combination with a steam-chamber heater, ofa wax-pot support, and a wax-pot adjustably mounted thereon and movabletoward and from the heater, and means for positively holding the wax-potin adjusted position whereby the wax-pot may be adjusted first toposition for the immediate melting and heating of its contents, and thento position for maintaining the wax in a suitable condition for use without continuous overheating.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 20th day of July, A. D.1897.

EVERETT P. RICHARDSON.

Witnesses:

' O. F. BROWN,

A. D. HARRISON.

